Disney’s new CEO says his ‘North Star’ is storytelling and creativity

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Disney has a new captain, and his eyes are on the stars.

Josh D’Amaro officially became the new CEO of the company on Wednesday, and he’s outlined an ambitious vision for its future. He plans to continue focusing on compelling, heartfelt stories, but with a greater emphasis on using the latest technology to bring them to life.

In his first message to employees as Disney’s leader, D’Amaro explained his goal: to build on Disney’s 100 years of beloved history by creating more personalized and technologically advanced experiences for fans around the globe.

He explained in a memo on Wednesday that, when used carefully, this technology can give our creative teams more power, improve what we can do, and allow us to build more engaging, interactive, and personalized Disney experiences for guests.

Bob D’Amaro explained he envisions Disney – encompassing its film, television, theme parks, streaming platforms, and sports content – functioning as a unified entity. He believes all parts of the company contribute to strengthening connections between Disney and its audience.

Disney’s strong relationship with its audience is crucial for its success going forward. With so many entertainment options available today, Disney needs to stand out from the competition.

To achieve this, D’Amaro intends to concentrate on the emotional connection people have with Disney. He shared a personal story, recalling his own childhood trip to Disneyland over four decades ago as an illustration.

He fondly remembered the happy look on his father’s face when they shared the Peter Pan’s Flight ride. He especially recalled his father excitedly pointing out, as they flew over the tiny London scene, “See? I told you it feels like we’re really flying!”

He recalled the joy he felt playing Peter Pan years ago, saying that feeling still resonates with him. In a note sent Wednesday morning, he expressed his excitement about the future and his belief in the team’s ability to achieve great things together with enthusiasm and confidence.

This new chapter marks the end of Bob Iger’s time as CEO, as he stepped down on Wednesday. He’ll remain with the company as a senior advisor until his retirement later this year.

Disney honored Bob Iger with a video tribute during its yearly shareholder meeting on Wednesday morning.

The video celebrated Bob Iger’s career at Disney, showcasing moments from his early days as CEO, key company acquisitions he oversaw, and his background in news broadcasting. It emphasized how he expanded Disney’s popular brands, theme parks worldwide, sports channels, and streaming services.

When asked in the video about where he’ll go from here, Iger laughed and replied, “To Disneyland.”

In a video message, Iger explained that he’s spent a large part of his life with Disney and never imagined he’d be CEO, let alone lead the company two separate times.

Looking back, the media landscape has changed so much, and the last three years especially were incredibly tough. There were moments it felt overwhelming, but honestly, what kept me going was seeing the dedication and creativity of the storytellers, innovators, and leaders I worked with – people all over the world who just loved what they did. Their passion was really inspiring.

In his farewell speech, he voiced his optimism about the company’s new leaders, D’Amaro and Dana Walden, who recently became president and chief creative officer.

He expressed his gratitude and said he’ll be rooting for Josh, Dana, and everyone else as he moves on. He thanked them for believing in him, for all the good times they shared, and for the privilege of working with them, saying it meant the world to him.

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2026-03-18 23:01